He was born in Oregon and moved to Idaho after his grandfather died. In his teens, he was pretty good in sports and received several university athletic scholarships, but everything changed after a tragic car accident. His athletic dreams were now put on an indefinite hold, yet a new journey with a new dream was in the making.
For Norm Jenkins, owner of several successful businesses over the years, the new path led him to Las Vegas in search of a better life. It’s been one in which he’s grown healthy, wealthy and wise over the past 45 years.
"I knew I had to get out of Idaho," recalls Jenkins. "I had a brother who was in Las Vegas and I called him up. I said I’ve got $150, a ’49 Olds and would like to give Las Vegas a shot. Do you think I can make a go of it? My brother told me to come on down. I guess I was about 19 years old.
"My first job here was with Western Airlines. In the old days, the airport was on Las Vegas Boulevard. You did all the duties, from checking people in at the counter, loading luggage, load-ing passengers, filing the flight plan, everything. You even announced the flights. You’d have guys like Bob Hope and Peter Lorrie, the legends right there, even boxing champ Joe Lewis, who I once played golf with. I still remember the price for a plane ticket to LA. It was only $13.56 in 1959."
Jenkins, no stranger to hard work and strong discipline, labored in a variety of jobs. He and his brother even helped build the radar station up at Angel Peak. "The tires on my ’56 Ford convertible were bald. We would drive up that road and hold our breath hoping none of the tires would explode. It was hard work, pouring the cement. We only got paid once a month. I remember coming home one night and the only thing we had to eat was a can of potatoes for dinner."
Jenkins dreamed of owning his own business. In the late ’60s, he opened a furniture business, then bought a franchise in a mattress company and eventually opened up several auto leasing companies with great success. Early on, he put in 12-14 hours a day.
"I believe that one man on his feet is better than two in their seat," Jenkins says with a chuckle. His management style has proven very positive for his Dollar Rent A Car and Sav-Mor Car Rental businesses in Las Vegas.
"I really loved The Sporting House athletic club. I joined it in the late 1970s and bought it in 1994. You’d see Dick Butkus, Kenny ‘Snake’ Stabler, Julius Irving, John F. Kennedy Jr., we even had the Prince of Brunei. It was 65,000 square feet on six acres. It had everything. All the great UNLV players worked-out here, like Larry Johnson and Randall Cunningham. We ended up selling it in 2001. It is now presently the world’s largest adult gentlemen’s club."
Today, Norm’s son Corey pretty much runs most of the Jenkins companies, which include ownership in several highly successful bars, such as Coyote Ugly, Bikinis, and Pure, the latest $14 million, 36,000-square-foot Megaclub at Caesars Palace. For relaxation, Jenkins now enjoys an occasional motor home trek through the West. He also keeps in shape at the exclusive Stirling Club, where wife Sharon serves as the director of marketing. The Jenkins Family Foun-dation continues to support Boys Town of Nevada, the Nevada Cancer Institute and Boys and Girls Clubs. Norm Jenkins did it right and has transformed his original $150 into a dream-come-true in the desert.
********** For the latest in Las Vegas luxury real estate: **********
For a free VIP membership to my personal Las Vegas luxury real estate web site where you can search from over 23,000 Las Vegas homes and condos, Click here for more at www.jimb.lasvegasfinehomes.com.
"May all of your Las Vegas Dreams come true." - Jim Bickford
